The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-09-22
TWO CHILDREN OF FoRrUNr.

W" ot EOltEDNE.
| Thomas and Laura billiard Of Iaurers
| County, Suddenly Becomes Hoirs TO q
Fortune of Sixteen Hundred Thousand
| Dollars.
AsnEYIhbE, N. c., September 1O.-A
large fortune has just been left by will
to the children of d citizen of this place.
10 Thomas billiard and Miss Laura
Dlllard, aged respectively fourteen and
eleven years, has been given the sum of
eight hundred thousand dollars each.
These muniticent legacies wero lett them
60y a wealthy uncle who has recently
died in California.
1t appears that in tho year 1850, just
before the great excitement about the
gold attracted such tide of fortune
seekers to California, from Rabun coun-
ty, Georgia, went several men to try
their luck on the Pacific Slope. Among
these was one James McCurry. The
party stopped at Plarerville, Fl Dorado
county. AT the end of tho first year
McCurry had saved enough money from
MS wages as q miner to purchase fifty
acres of land near that place. This he
dld against the remonstrance of his
friends, but it soon was discovered to be
'iNh III t5oiNi SSlOolGos nlClJltIGY SOlu
this property without working it further
than sufficient to develop it for sale. and
tor it he got from Boston syndicate
100000. This was the foundation of
his fortune and with this he purchased
other lands in that section and found
other rich deposits of gold Oh them.
These mines he worked, and it is snid
that the McCnrry mines were amog the
richest in that State, SO remarkably rich
then in this metal,
died, and having never had any family
of his own, his property was left to his
relatives. Mr.. George w. billiard, a
lawyer of this city, married sister of
James McCurry--a Miss Nancy Margaret
McCurry. Mr.. billiard and these two
children, Thomas and Laura, survive
her. A copy of the will has been re-
ceived by MIR. billiard, and it gives to
the heirs at law of his sister. Nancy
Margaret billiard, sixteen hundred thou
sand dollars.
II is thought much difficulty will be
found III securing guardians for these
children. They are now residents of
Laurcns, 5. G., but are to come here
shortly, and the letters of guardianship
VII w t''hN ouG IlSlc. JuS lllWS OF IlllS
State require bond to be filed by
guardians III double the value of the
estate. In this case, even if guardian
were appointed for each child, the bonds
would have to bo for one million and
SIX hundred thousand dollars each.
Then there is tie further legal REQUIRE
ment that the guardian shall account for
the interest on his wards funds ut 6 per
rpD,i =
ed. Thus are the difficulties evident in
regard to The management of these an
nually large lcgaciCs. The local papers
contain lengthy aud minute accounts Of
Tue lnattur. Mir. DiilnId was formerly n
mcnlicr of the Spult :nburg bar, and is
known moro or less in other sections Of
South Carolina
From the Ashevillc Advance, September 9. }
In conversation with Mr.. billiard YES
terday, be said:
chr. AlcCurry was always regarded as
a peculiar man, but he was as sharp as n
briar. Soon after he won't to California
he became alienatcd from the relatives
he hud left behind him and ceased all
correspondence with them. Years passed
when he was not heard from at all.
Finally his family were surprised ono
day by receiving letter from Mr.. Nc.
Curry. He said that he was sick and
wanted 500 to come home with. Tho
money was sent, but in few weeks il
was returned, accompanied by state.
mcnt that it was not needed.
'4ears after this circumstance | wrote
to lawyer in California, asking for in
formation regarding James McCurry.
He answered that he knew him well, and
that he was one of the millionaireS of the
Golden State.
"When my wife died in 1881, at Web
ster, n. c., ] sent Mr.. McCurry an an
nouncemont of her death. Tic answer
| received to this letter made an inquiry
in regard to tho number of children,
left by my wife. We then had four
and [ also wrote him. Two have since
died. Now, the will, of which [ have q
copy, bears the date Of 1882, and | pre-
sumo that Mr.. McCurry made this will
with the idea that he was distributing
81, 6OO,O 900 among four children instead
of two. You see, that would have left
them $400, 600 apiece.
"My brother-in-law was resident of
Placcrville, California, and in his will he
leaves $4,000 to Miss Sarah Louise
Clifford, Of that place, and $500 to the
Rev. Hall. L have no information in
regard to either of these paties. The
will provides that after the payment of
these special legacies the remainder of
his property shall be divided among his
nearest relatives in Rabun county, Ga.
My two children are living with their
grandmother in the country in the coun-
ty of Laurens, South Carolina, and have
not yet learned of their good fortune.
My daughter is eleven years old; my
son fourteen. From the fact of their
being minors a guardian will, of course,
have to be appointed; and it is expected
that considerable difficulty will be ex-
perienced in making bond of the largo
dimensions required"
Garnets for Mrs. Cleveland.